Left to right: Aggie Maseko Banda, lodge manager and partner at Relais & Châteaux Royal Chundu–Luxury Zambezi Lodges - Claudia Bosch, owner of Casa Palopó and Villa Bokéh - Smita Daruvala, general manager of Ahilya by the Sea - Federica Bevilacqua, spa manager of L’Albereta - Nadine Mögling, general manager and sommelier of Bij Jef - Carol Duval-Leroy, CEO of Maison Duval-Leroy - Kana Otowa, general manager of Otowa Restaurant and member of Relais & Châteaux COMEX
For International Women's Rights Day, we met with six women from across Relais & Châteaux and one of our official partners who share their vision, hopes and contributions to the cause.
Focus on Aggie Banda, winner of the 2023 Woman of the year Trophy by Relais & Châteaux
As Lodge Manager and Partner at Relais & Châteaux Royal Chundu–Luxury Zambezi Lodges in Zambia, Aggie has collaborated with her local community, providing employment for gardeners, seamstresses, traditional painters, weavers and fishers as part of her commitment to sharing Zambian culture with guests. Today, three-quarters of her employees are women. In 2020, she received We Are Africa’s Shape Africa prize in recognition of her initiatives.
“Gender equality in the workplace is critical for the future, particularly in Japan.”
In a country facing a population crisis, the question of women in the workplace is a crucial subject, says Kana Otowa, general manager of Otowa Restaurant in Utsunomiya and member of the Relais & Châteaux COMEX.
Why is it important to have more women working in gastronomy–and as chefs?
Kana Otowa: We need more women in every occupation, not just hospitality or gastronomy. A more balanced mix of all genders; of single and married people; of different ages working together brings more complex insights into the conversation.
Which single achievement or objective for gender equality would you like to implement in 2023?
KO: My simple hope is that more female staff join the team. In Japan, hospitality jobs don’t seem to appeal to women seeking long-term positions–often because of long, and late, working hours. We desperately need employment policies that appeal to working parents and anyone with family members who need extra care.
Which aspect of women’s rights particularly motivates you?
KO: Gender equality in the workplace is critical for the future, particularly in Japan. With a more gender equal workplace, we would not have as much problem with the declining fertility, shrinking population, and rapid aging demographic situation right now. It is sad when people have to choose between a career or having a family–one should not stop the other. I feel that becoming a parent made me a better manager as I became a better listener to our employees.
“Our biggest challenge is to integrate staff with full-time jobs and full ‘family duties’.”
Claudia Bosch is the owner of Casa Palopó and Villa Bokéh, two Relais & Châteaux properties in Guatemala, and balances life as a mother and manager.
What are your hopes for the future generation?
Claudia Bosch: I dream of a world that respects women’s rights as a whole. My biggest dream would be for women to belong to a world where you don't have to sacrifice one role for the other, because I strongly believe that our jobs define us and give us dignity.
What single achievement or objective for gender equality would you like to implement in 2023?
CB: We have an office where eighty per cent are women. Our biggest challenge is to integrate staff with full-time jobs and full ‘family duties’. To do so, we want to implement a support system for our children’s staff.
What would be your one piece of advice to empower women within your team?
CB: Never stop following your passions– they will make you feel complete in every aspect of your life. My mother, a strong woman who always empowered women, said that if you take care of yourself, your family will be fulfilled and taken care of.
“I believe that women bring a certain flair and finesse to the world of wine”
With her expertise as general manager and sommelier of Bij Jef in The Netherlands, Nadine Mögling is passionate about empowering women in wine.
What does gender equality mean for you?
Nadine Mögling: Your gender shouldn’t affect how you are treated–what matters is how you are as a person. I hope we can all find the right balance between what is convenient and what is right. We should evaluate someone’s character and potential to see if they suit the job, rather than not hiring a woman just because she is a woman.
Why is it important to have more women sommeliers?
NM: Right now, the world of wine consists mainly of men, which isn’t necessarily a negative thing. However, I believe that women bring a certain flair and finesse to the world, and help make wine more accessible and approachable to more people. Where men can be a bit cocky about their knowledge, women can show their skills with class.
What’s your one piece of advice for women starting a career in the wine sector?
NM: Don’t let anyone scare you off. The wine sector is a never-ending learning environment and no one can know everything. Keep being curious and eager to learn–your motivation is the key to reaching your highest level.
“My advice for women would be to use their voice, so that they are heard.”
As Ahilya by the Sea’s general manager in India, Smita Daruvala, is committed to make every voice in her team heard and celebrate everyone’s achievements.
What’s your main objective for gender equality in 2023?
Smita Daruvala: I want to make sure the credit for an idea goes to the person who conceived it, regardless of gender. If a proposal comes from a woman but is seconded by a man, the woman should be credited for the idea and whatever it achieves.
What’s your one piece of advice to empower women within your team?
SD: To use their voice, so that they are heard. The key is to practice. It’s a virtuous circle: the more they speak up, the more they will be heard.
Which aspect of the women’s rights movement particularly motivates you?
SD: As a manager myself, I see how important it is to fight against gender-stereotyped roles. Addressing training needs and creating spaces to discuss this topic in the organizations is essential.
“The spa is a place where gender equity is paradoxically seen in reverse.”
Federica Bevilacqua is the spa manager of L’Albereta in Italy. In a sector dominated by women, she feels sensitive to the question of equal access to professional opportunities between genders.
What is gender equality for you?
Federica Bevilacqua: It does not mean that men and women become the same–only that their access to opportunities is neither dependent on, nor constrained by their gender. Education, employment, empowerment and leadership are key to overcome these barriers.
Do you see a change in how this topic is perceived from your generation to the next?
FB: Yes, especially online, with social campaigns, slogans or marketing. The new generation pays much more attention to inclusive language.
What achievement or objective for gender equality do you have for 2023?
FB: The truth is at our spa we are nearly entirely staffed by women. Here, men are more penalized because clients usually prefer female therapists. Therefore, the spa tends to be a place where gender equity is in reverse. It would be a positive step if we can increase the proportion of men on our team–and build up their reputation within this space.
“With 42% female employees, Maison Duval-Leroy has become an exception today in the masculine world of champagne.”
Carol Duval-Leroy is a woman of conviction who has managed to become a prominent figure in the world of champagne. Since 1991, she has been the head of Maison Duval-Leroy, one of the official partners of Relais & Châteaux. She shares with us her experience and her vision as a “lady of champagne.”
How do you view the progress of women’s positions in the world of champagne?
Carol Duval-Leroy: Women bring their flair, humanity, finesse, taste, and enthusiasm to the world of wine. Sandrine Logette-Jardin – who was the first female cellarmaster in the wine world – and I share the desire to innovate and propose exceptional champagnes. Our partnership is what allows us to create our distinctively elegant champagnes.
What actions are you taking within your Maison to promote gender equality?
CDL: I certainly got it right when I gave women pride of place throughout every level of the company. With 42% female employees, Maison Duval-Leroy has become an exception today in the masculine world of champagne. That’s a great score when you consider that women were once forbidden from visiting the vat rooms, since a long-standing superstition had it that their presence could spoil the wine!
Is it an opportunity or a challenge to be a woman in charge of a champagne brand? How have you managed to impose yourself in that field?
CDL: Throughout the world, despite all our efforts and accomplishments, women still have a much harder time than men in attaining executive positions. At too many companies, the CEO is a man. Sometimes in life you have to know when to take a chance and question the establishment. It’s a real challenge to the world of men.
